Homeless Enjoy Good Life for a Day at College Outreach : Volunteerism: Co-sponsored by Newport-Mesa Christian Center, third annual ‘Family Fest’ provided haircuts, showers, new clothes, a warm meal and companionship for about 200 appreciative people.

COSTA MESA — Marny Rees hunkered down to the table, lifting her cast-encased leg onto a chair so a Southern California College student could paint it with a rose and a heart.

Enjoying the colorful balloons and the Christian rock music, Rees, 33, said spending her Saturday at the college’s Family Fest for the homeless was a much-needed respite from the streets of Santa Ana.

“They’re letting people like us know that someone is looking out for us,” said Rees, who has been homeless about three years and who just spent a week in the hospital after a car struck her. “I’ve had people spit on me in the streets. The people here care.”

About 200 homeless people, from elderly people to young families, came to this small college Saturday for showers, new clothes, haircuts, a warm meal and companionship. It was the third time the college has teamed up with the neighboring Newport-Mesa Christian Center to provide a day of outreach to the homeless people of Costa Mesa and Santa Ana.

“We say, ‘Bring yourself or your family and join our family. Let’s have a block party,’ ” said Teri Silveira, the director of the college’s outreach ministries.

Flyers went out to Orange County shelters advertising the services that would be provided. Then, Saturday morning, vans from the church and the college picked up homeless people at different collection points, including parks and shelters.

Once on the well-manicured lawns of the college, each person was given a ticket which was marked off at each station--showers in the student locker rooms, hair trimming by student volunteers on the gymnasium floor, choosing from racks of clothes separated by gender and size, and finally, lunch in the cafeteria.

James Everett, who lost his job and apartment in February, got some added help. Volunteers said they would help try to scare up two used tires for his car. He and his wife have been living in a Santa Ana shelter, but his new temporary job with a soda maker that he hopes will get him back on his feet is in Buena Park. The tires weren’t up to the trek.

Angel Ruiz, 22, a senior at Southern California College, said helping people like Everett is exciting, and gives students the experience they can draw on later in creating their own outreach programs.

“This gives you the satisfaction of knowing you’re helping out a fellow brother,” the native of El Paso said. “I come from a tough background. Finances were hard, so I know how nice it is to get a helping hand.”